Dance Drama As An Aesthetic And Linguistic Literacy Space For Students At ISI Bali

Abstract

Art students often face challenges in mastering foreign languages, especially when learning demands integration between linguistic and aesthetic aspects. This research aims to explore the role of English-language dance drama as an integrative learning medium to develop students' linguistic and aesthetic literacy at Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Bali. This study focuses on the production and performance of a dance drama entitled The Mercy of Durga Devi, performed by students of the Faculty of Performing Arts. Using a descriptive qualitative approach and case study method, this research involved students who were active in the creative process of the performance. Data were collected through participatory observation, semi-structured interviews, and documentation. The results showed that students' involvement in the creative process encouraged the improvement of prosodic skills, articulation, as well as the contextual use of English. Simultaneously, they demonstrated aesthetic sensitivity through the exploration of movement, body expression, and dramatic understanding. Dance drama proved to be an effective multimodal learning space in developing linguistic and artistic competencies simultaneously. This study is limited to one institution, so further research is needed for cross-context validation. Practically, the results support the development of a dual literacy-based arts curriculum and enrich the study of multimodal literacy in art and language education.